Alex McLeish has been out of work since leaving Nottingham Forest in February and Crystal Palace are on his radar. Photograph: Craig Brough/Action Images

Alex McLeish has indicated a desire to become Crystal Palace's new manager, saying that he would not be fazed by the challenge of keeping the struggling club in the Premier League.

Palace, who are bottom of the table with three points from their first nine matches, have been without a manager since Ian Holloway left by mutual consent last week, although the odds on Chris Coleman taking the job have shortened dramatically in the past 24 hours after a flurry of bets.

Holloway guided Palace through the Championship play-offs last season but after signing 16 players in the summer, a terrible start took its toll. McLeish has experience of the Premier League, with Birmingham City and Aston Villa, although he was relegated twice with the former and sacked by the latter. The 54-year-old has been out of a job since leaving Nottingham Forest in February.

"There hasn't been any contact yet but I am a free agent," McLeish said. "Crystal Palace are in a position that's precarious for them but there's still a lot of points to play for. I've had those kind of challenges before and I've had some success and some failures but if you've got a fighting spirit and good players playing to their strengths, then why can't Palace stay up?"

Coleman is a popular figure at Selhurst Park after a successful four-year spell as a player there and the 43-year-old is yet to commit his future with Wales to beyond November, when his contract runs out, even though he has been offered a new deal.

Palace are also reported to have held talks with Martin O'Neill and Tony Pulis, while also retaining an interest in their former manager, Neil Warnock, but the club have confirmed that Keith Millen, who took charge of the 2-0 defeat by Arsenal last weekend, will continue in his caretaker role for Saturday's trip to West Bromwich Albion.